Xue Rui first sucked up to Ji Feng technically: “Boss, you really planned things out perfectly early on!” Then he switched to gossip: “You were quite angry before, saying you wanted to make things difficult for Xu Miyu and that’s why directly promoted her to Supervisor. I was puzzled at the time – if you wanted to mess with her, wouldn’t it be better leaving her an ordinary attendant bullied by the Supervisor? Why help her become Supervisor instead? I finally understand now. Elevating her so abruptly wasn’t doing her any favors but rather harm by excessive fertilizing. Because she couldn’t gain others’ allegiance or obedience so she got isolated and even resented by subordinates. You really grasp everything accurately.”
Xue Rui poured Ji Feng more tea while admiring: “But Boss, her present situation really is somewhat miserable.”
Holding his cup Ji Feng gently blew ripples on his tea, eyes gazing down at the floating leaves within. Casually yet coldly he asked: “Did I permit you to mention her before me?”
Xue Rui made a sudden sound of realization before quickly clapping a hand over his mouth and admitting error.
“My mistake Boss!”
Ji Feng sipped his tea then leaned forward placing the cup on the table. Suddenly he lifted piercing eyes questioning: “How’s she a bit miserable?”
Sandwiched between his disconnected lines of dialogue Xue Rui blanked again momentarily.
Weren’t you saying not to bring up Xu Miyu??
So should he continue or not??
Hearing Ji Feng’s soft rebuke: “I’m asking you, why’re you dazing out? Speak.”
Xue Rui thought fine, you said to so I will. If you erupt afterwards it’ll prove you not human!
Urged impatiently by Ji Feng, Xue Rui spilled everything he’d heard at once like unloaded beans.
“That…older sister, whether at her own home with the awful cheating husband, or outside utterly isolated at work now – because she got promoted to Supervisor right after probation so all her subordinates are pretty hostile, refusing to obey her. Frankly her current situation’s more unsightly than when she was just an insignificant attendant.”
Finished his spiel he looked up at Ji Feng whose mouth corner twitched, smiling derisively with utmost contempt in his eyes.
“This is what you call really miserable? The scum man was her own choice, clinging stubbornly to the rotten marriage instead of leaving. As for the former Supervisor, it was her ambition to maneuver the woman out in the first place. If wanting to replace someone then bear the ensuing stress herself. There’s nothing ‘miserable’ about any of this.”
Hearing Ji Feng’s words Xue Rui nearly got brainwashed into the conclusion that Xu Miyu wasn’t miserable at all after all.
But he swiftly regained clarity, refusing successful mental coercion.
Xu Miyu hadn’t requested becoming Supervisor herself so why would she need to withstand the pressures of said role? This was clearly Ji Feng’s unilateral decision, including the pressures faced in that capacity.
Yet he didn’t quite dare voice these thoughts aloud. He wished to keep both life and job.
“But that Xu Miyu really is stubborn.” Xue Rui relayed another piece of gossip to Ji Feng’s ears. “I heard two of their staff checked into a room then checked right back out in half an hour. Afterwards Xu Miyu arranged for the attendants to go clean it but none listened. They even retorted it was only half an hour, no overnight stay, so remaking the bedding was sufficient without full sanitization. And this was supposedly standard Swire Hotel practice, no issue there. But she didn’t listen. Seeing the attendants unwilling to thoroughly clean up she went and handled the entire sanitizing process herself.”
Xue Rui asked Ji Feng’s opinion when finished: “Boss, don’t you think this woman’s rather silly and stubborn?”
Inside the private room Xue Rui nearly nodded along.
Even he was starting to feel some sympathy for that older sister.
Actually she wasn’t so useless given some thought. Just somewhat personality flawed but she’d never harmed anyone’s interests before. Yet now anyone could exploit those flaws to deceive and ridicule her leaving even him finding that a touch unbearable.
Glancing sideways at Ji Feng, he was currently sprinkling seeds in the farm plot on screen. From this angle one could glimpse faintly creased eyebrows.
They were furrowed.
Impossible to determine whether the crevasse conveyed contempt or sympathy towards that woman, or disdain for those openly gathered to mock others.
“Yeah I’m also feeling a bit bad for her to be honest.” Came a voice from outside.
But the one called Ke Wenxue immediately retorted: “Give it a rest Yin Xiang. Since Xu Miyu became our supervisor you’ve spared no opportunity exploiting her weakness to avenge past grievances. Saying you sympathize yet clearly no less deception from you! What with getting her to handle all sorts of stuff like Engineering, Front Desk, Marketing, F&B etc that should be attendants’ jobs. People from those departments laugh about it too, asking what’s going on in our floor. Don’t we have any attendants left? Making our supervisor personally run around assisting all over, it’s a riot!”
Somewhat awkward now at being exposed, Yin Xiang said: “But I do feel somewhat bad for her, just still upset over her betraying our trust.”
Wanting to prevent in-fighting between Ke Wenxue and Yin Xiang the other two switched topics.
“Oh right, maybe you haven’t heard. She’s not only work-wise quirky, blanking out easily when praised then letting herself get conned into anything. Her family background is mega quirky too! Classic little brother worshipper! We accidentally picked up her call once with her mom demanding money for her brother’s mortgage and whatnot!”
The lounge attendant gasped, hands over mouth: “That nuts? Oh by the way I heard her husband’s cheating?”
The other attendant instantly perked up: “Totally! He brought his mistress here before too and came again a few days ago but she still calmly went to clean their room afterwards. My god, all three of them are so shameless!”
Even the lounge attendant chimed in with exclamations of “Heavens!” before joining the women in clucking: “This woman’s too bizarre. How has she survived until now? No brain, no principles, loses herself easily when praised or approved. Won’t divorce the cheating husband but goes out working to provide. Family black sheep brother also leeching off her. She really lives a tragic existence!”
Listening in the private room Xue Rui nearly nodded as well.
Glancing over, Ji Feng had already put his tablet away and risen from his seat.
He looked absolutely livid, brows tightly knitted, some incomprehensible rage shrouding his form.
Xue Rui almost felt Ji Feng would directly storm out the next second to disperse those absurd gossipers.
But before they exited a distant holler sounded: “Where are all you people I told to work gone lazing about?! Come on, go do your cleaning!”
The gathered group promptly scattered.
Ji Feng handed his tablet to Xue Rui and buttoned up his suit, pushing the door open and stepping outside.
Unwilling to walk through the main lounge they detoured the private room’s rear where a small exit-only door was located.
Right after turning the corner Ji Feng halted abruptly.
There stood Xu Miyu, silently in the secluded niche behind the private room.
She had clearly heard everything said about her just now.
Sensing the abrupt towering figure before her she started, glancing up.
The instant their eyes connected Ji Feng’s brows knitted tighter again.
He swept a gaze down Xu Miyu. She seemed somewhat different from before.
Her uniform had changed. A women’s suit ensemble with button up white shirt underneath. Attire befitting an upgraded Supervisor.
The new uniform lent an additionally polished air, also more figure hugging. Making her waist appear slimmer and legs more straight.
She looked slightly more spirited than in the past.
Yet his vexation and revulsion towards her seemed compounded even deeper.
In a fleeting moment he felt an inexplicable restless irritation, like something would injure him internally if not promptly vented outward.
As if they were strangers he brushed coldly by.
But nearing the point of barely grazing shoulders he suddenly halted instead.
Then turned his head, lowered his eyes, smiled derisively and softly questioned her: “Don’t you have any self respect? Must you live so base a life?”
She jerked up to face him.
It was his first clear glimpse into her eyes at such proximity.
Surprisingly, up close they were actually quite clean looking eyes. Dark pupils and clear whites. Devoid of schemes, of ambition, but brimming fully with injury.
She mutely regarded him with that pair of profoundly wounded eyes.
Something about her gaze briefly jolted his heart.
He tore eyes away, facing forward again without further words or looks. Maintaining aloofness he strode past her out the exit.
Departing the administrative lounge Ji Feng felt unusually vexed. Like strings of erratic clouds on a fine day sporadically obscuring the sun, putting both weather and mood in flux between clear and overcast. Unwilling to dwell upon them yet unable to ignore intermittent impact on spirits. Half inclined to carefully examine the issue before realizing the ridiculousness of wasting thought on such trifles.
But his mood had inevitably been affected by those nagging influences.
What right had she to look so aggrieved and injured catching his eyes earlier?
Stepping into the elevator afterwards Ji Feng finally gave in to impulse, reaching up to yank his tie loose and popping a shirt button free, inhaling deeply.
His actions left mutely astounded Xue Rui shaken beside him. Never had he witnessed Ji Feng so nearly losing composure.
Ji Feng abruptly issued orders: “If her underlings remain disobedient find an excuse for Housekeeping to dismiss her later.”
Might her living thus without dignity still be better than dismissal.
Echoing agreement Xue Rui responded: “Yes Boss, she’d face the same work switching hotels but as long as not affecting your mood here we’re good.”
Slanting a glare his way Ji Feng retracted his statement after: “Nevermind, ignore her. Let her survive or perish on her own.”
Who was he to interfere on some nobody?
Xue Rui swiftly echoed: “Of course Boss. She’ll up and leave anyway soon as it gets too much, saves you from seeming petty.”
Ji Feng looked him up and down again. Every inch the very image of deference and compliance.
Yet somehow he sensed traces of sarcasm. Like deliberate misconstrual of intent.
But Ji Feng figured Xue Rui had one thing right: she’d step down herself when it became too much to bear.
What Ji Feng and Xue Rui both failed to anticipate however was how, despite outward frailty and weakness, that Xu Miyu woman actually possessed impressive resilience and fortitude.
As days passed Xue Rui discovered through his channels not only had Xu Miyu not crumbled whatsoever, astonishingly even the administrative housekeeping department’s atmosphere seemed undergoing subtle transformation.
Those formerly mocking her behind her back were steadily growing more deferential.
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